Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

by John Williams

Overview

Bidding farewell to one of the most beloved series of all time, composer John Williams takes one last turn on the conductor's podium for his final contribution to the Star Wars cinematic universe with Episode IX, The Rise of Skywalker. Much like the events onscreen, the score is also a family reunion of sorts, incorporating all of Williams' greatest Star Wars moments in one grand finale. Integrating these copious callbacks with the sequel trilogy newcomers is no minor task, but the composer does it with ease, unveiling even newer additions to the sonic canon ("Anthem of Evil," "The Rise of Skywalker") while trotting out almost every major theme from the previous eight films and weaving them throughout the soundtrack. Balancing light and dark side themes, the appropriate fear and dread are amplified by the skillful usage of the Emperor's associated motifs, "The Imperial March," Kylo Ren's theme, and the ominous First Order theme ("Prologue," "Journey to Exegol," and "Join Me"), while past themes for each of the main heroes often combine to rouse and inspire ("Destiny of a Jedi," "They Will Come," and "Reunion"). Although these leitmotifs fly as freely as a Stormtrooper's laser blasts, they land with precision in the master's hands, invoking nostalgia wherever necessary, creating unbearable tension, and tugging the heartstrings at all the appropriate moments (especially "We Go Together" and the redemptive "Farewell"). For fans in search of planet Pasaana's big Burning Man festival theme "Lido Hey" (composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and director J.J. Abrams) or the cool "Oma's Theme" from planet Kijimi (Williams himself gets a cameo as the titular bar owner), they'll have to look elsewhere, as neither song is included here ("The Speeder Chase" and "Fleeing from Kijimi" serve as those planets' respective score representatives). Nonetheless, the soundtrack already contains plenty of material to savor. Like the movie, there is a lot going on and repeat experiences slowly unveil all the layers of what Williams is attempting with this finale. Returning to where it all started, de facto finisher "A New Home" brings a victorious hero back to Tatooine and A New Hope, laying the past to rest at the setting of the twin suns. It's a proper close to this saga, right before Williams takes an 11-minute victory lap with "Finale," which allows every major theme to take one last bow. As the final, triumphant notes blare, Williams cements his place as an indelible and vital part of the Star Wars universe, the man responsible for creating some of the most recognizable pieces of film music for multiple generations of fans. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	12/20/2019
Label:	Walt Disney
UPC:	0050087423988

Tracks

1. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Fanfare and Prologue
2. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Journey to Exegol
3. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~The Rise of Skywalker
4. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~The Old Death Star
5. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~The Speeder Chase
6. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Destiny of a Jedi
7. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Anthem of Evil
8. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Fleeing from Kijimi
9. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~We Go Together
10. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Join Me
11. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~They Will Come
12. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~The Final Saber Duel
13. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Battle of the Resistance
14. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Approaching the Throne
15. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~The Force Is With You
16. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Farewell
17. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Reunion
18. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~A New Home
19. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker~Finale

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Williams   Primary Artist,Conductor
Adam Neely   Viola
Lelie Resnick   Oboe
Josh Newburger   Viola
Tereza Stanislav   Violin
Daniel Kelley   French Horn
Jenni Olson   Flute
Tom Ranier   Piano
Stephen Erdody   Cello
Lorenz Gamma   Violin
Alyssa Park   Violin
Roger Wilkie   Violin
Geri Rotella   Flute
Ralph Williams   Clarinet
Gary S. Boyver   Clarinet
Kim Scholes   Cello
Jenny Kim   French Horn
Daniel Rosenboom   Trumpet
Lauren Chipman   Viola
Sara Parkins   Violin
Heather Clark   Flute
Jon Lewis   Trumpet
Kate Reddish   Viola
Jo Ann Turovsky   Harp
Tamara Hatwan   Violin
Vanessa Freebairn-Smith   Cello
Luke Maurer   Viola
Steven Becknell   French Horn
Kenneth McGrath   Percussion
Marc Sazer   Violin
Los Angeles Master Chorale   Choir/Chorus
Maya Magub   Violin
Laszlo Mezo   Cello
Amy Hershberger   Violin
Bing Wang   Violin
Donald Foster   Clarinet
Edward J. Atkatz   Percussion
Aaron Oltman   Viola
Damian Montano   Bassoon
Teag Reaves   French Horn
Kenneth Munday   Bassoon
Phillip Levy   Violin
Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick   Cello
Victoria Miskolczy   Viola
Steven Holtman   Trombone
Robert deMaine   Cello
Alex Iles   Trombone
Steven Schaeffer   Percussion
Kevin Kumar   Violin
Maia Jasper White   Violin
Nina Evtuhov   Violin
Stuart Clark   Clarinet
Stephen Dress   Double Bass
Juan Gallegos   Clarinet
Kevin Connolly   Violin
Dennis Kim   Violin
Jessica E. Guideri   Violin
Benjamin Jacobson   Violin
Dylan Hart   French Horn
Phillip Keen   Trombone
Victor de Almeida   Viola
Laura Brenes   French Horn
Andrew Bain   French Horn
Benjamin Smolen   Flute
Jacob Braun   Cello
Mike Nowak   Viola
Greg Goodall   Percussion
Katie Sloan   Violin
Ed Meares   Double Bass
Bill Booth   Trombone
Helen Altenbach   Cello
Gloria Cheng   Piano
Brian Dembow   Viola
Marcia Dickstein   Harp
Oscar Hidalgo   Double Bass
Bruce Dukov   Violin
Peter Limonick   Percussion
Lucia Micarelli   Violin
Robert Brophy   Viola
Jacqueline Brand   Violin
William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr.   Trombone
Mark Adams   French Horn
Wade Culbreath   Percussion
Alma Fernandez   Viola
Rafael Rishik   Violin
Darrin McCann   Viola
Don Williams   Timpani
Sarah Thornblade   Violin
Josefina Vergara   Violin
Christian Kollgaard   Double Bass
Julie Gigante   Violin
Jim Self   Tuba
Dave Walther   Viola
David Washburn   Trumpet
Marisa Kuney   Violin
Caroline Buckman   Viola
Trevor Handy   Cello
Irina Voloshina   Violin
Shawn Mann   Viola
Doug Tornquist   Tuba
Eun Mee Ahn   Violin
Roberto Cani   Violin
Dane Little   Cello
Nico Abondolo   Double Bass
Rose Corrigan   Bassoon
Charlie Bisharat   Violin
Dennis Karmazyn   Cello
Shalini Vijayan   Violin
Leslie Reed   Oboe
Lorand Lokuszta   Violin
John Walz   Cello
Drew Dembowski   Double Bass
Songa Lee   Violin
Ana Landauer   Violin
Carolyn Riley   Viola
Helen Nightengale   Violin
Meredith Crawford   Viola
Grace Oh   Violin
Lara Wickes   Oboe
Barry Perkins   Trumpet
Lisa Liu   Violin
Radu Pieptea   Violin

Technical Credits

Mitchell Leib   Producer,Executive in Charge of Music
Sandy De Crescent   Music Contractor
Steve Sterling   Package Design
Robert Wolff   Score Editor
Patricia Sullivan   Mastering
Elyse Willis   Vocal Contractor
Marc Shaw   Music Business Affairs
J.J. Abrams   Liner Notes
Grant Gershon   Artistic Director
John Williams   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes
Ramiro Belgardt   Music Editor
Shawn Murphy   Mixing,Engineer
Scott Holtzman   Music Business Affairs
Jo Ann Kane   Music Preparation
Mark Graham   Music Librarian